October 2015 knitting and crochet workshop with tutor Carol Meldrum

The project Carol set for the week was a gorgeous bag that could be worked in knitting or crochet, each square using a different technique. For this workshop we have 4 residential guests and 2 day girls and everyone has chosen to work their squares in crochet choosing different colour combinations from the stash of yarn.

In between the workshops we went shopping for yarn and fabric in Saintes

market shopping in St Jean d'Angely.

And more yarn shopping and sightseeing in Cognac

Carol was out for a run at sunrise in the mornings and I was out with the dogs, looking for inspiration in the lovely autumn shades.

We spent the evenings enjoying leisurely suppers of figs with parma ham and feta cheese, goats cheese souffles, warming soups and stews, followed by croissant bread and butter pudding, cheesecake and chocolate torte then a glass of wine or two in front of the log burner,

It has been a really lovely week to end the season, La Verderie feels very quiet now that everyone has gone but we are looking forward to 2016 with spaces for the knitting retreats filling up fast.

September 2015 knitting and crochet retreat in France

On wednesday I took Sandra and Mary into St Jean d'Angely for a visit to the market and a visit to the lovely kitchen shop which quelle horreur was closed for stock taking - Mary very upset!
The market though, was bursting with colour

back home, to find the others enjoying the sunshine, Tania is blocking her gorgeous Norwegian Wood cushion designed by Jane Crowfoot (available to buy as a kit here)

and Mary has finished another lovely shawl designed by Anniken Allis and knitted in Skein Queen Luminosity

Amanda brought along her lovely top down knitted sweater that she was working on here in June

And Sandra has finished her second project of the week a lace and textured cowl in the most beautiful blue